Elgar's "Cockaigne Overture" - - Audio + Full Score

pf: Arthur Bliss cond/ New Philharmonia Orchestra
Cockaigne (In London Town), Op. 40, also known as the Cockaigne Overture, is a concert overture for full orchestra composed by the British composer Edward Elgar in 1900-01.
The success of the Enigma Variations in 1899 was followed by the initial failure of The Dream of Gerontius, which caused composer Edward Elgar to become dispirited and declare that God was against art. Nevertheless, he received a commission from the Royal Philharmonic Society and began work on a new piece and soon reported that it was "cheerful and Londony, 'stout and steaky'...honest, healthy, humorous and strong, but not vulgar."
The first performance was in the Queen's Hall, London at a Royal Philharmonic Society Concert, on June 20, 1901, conducted by the composer. The composer dedicated the work to his "many friends, the members of British orchestras." The music was an immediate success and became one of Elgar's most popular works. It has been performed in the concert hall less frequently in recent decades, though a performance conducted by Britain's then Prime Minister, Edward Heath, at a gala London Symphony Orchestra concert at the Festival Hall in November 1971, brought Cockaigne to much wider attention than usual.

[@emperornapoleon6204]

He may have been English, but even I can’t deny that this is an excellent piece of music.

[@maxgregorycompositions6216]

You make it sound like being English is a prerequisite for not being able to compose good music.

[@niraptakis]

i never clocked the organ at the end. This recording sounds so good

[@thomasrollig6002]

Wunderschönes Werk, großartige Interpretation

[@davidrehak3539]

Edward Elgar:Cockaigne Nyitány Op.40
Philharmonia Zenekar
Vezényel:Arthur Bliss

[@Kris9kris]

Absolutely beautiful. I think Elgar wouldn't hesitate to dig a deeper grave for himself if he saw the predicament that London finds itself nowadays...

[@ПётрИльи́чЧайковский-ь9м]

oh he most definitely would. On the political compass, he's actually placed in the "right authoritarian" sector.

[@camillebouchard6436]

J'aime ++++

[@jeffreykahl2548]

Parts of this piece remind me of Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet." I absolutely love Vaughan Williams!

[@Kris9kris]

"I absolutely love Vaughan Williams" ???

[@victoryproductions5152]

This piece is written by Elgar, not RVW...

[@subplantant]

anyone else think this piece works better with a bit more 'zip'?

[@AndreyRubtsovRU]

Sure. Cut it. Cut it again. But then... British audience might cut you as well. They used to cut Russian symphonies all the time as well.

[@jaegonekim]

Cockaigne? the drug?

[@thebrasshole6204]

김재곤 it's french for Cockney

[@jaegonekim]

ah I see thx

[@guscox9651]

@@thebrasshole6204 i dont think it is. i remember looking it up, pretty sure its an old english word referring to a mythical ideal paradise thing

[@maxgregorycompositions6216]

No, Cockney.